Educational Science

Doctors Removed a Melon-Size Tumor from This Man's Neck

Doctors removed a cantaloupe-size tumor from a man's neck that was threatening to suffocate the patient, according to news reports. The cancerous mass measured 9 inches (23 centimeters) across and weighed between 5 and 7 lbs. (about 3 kilograms), several outlets reported. Retired electrician, 81, finally gets a soccer ball-sized...

Lobotomy: Definition, procedure and history

Lobotomy, also known as leucotomy, is a neurosurgical operation that involves permanently damaging parts of the brain's prefrontal lobe, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Introduced in the mid-20th century, lobotomies have always been controversial, but were widely performed for more than two decades as...

An old adage with a modern spin says that you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet. Now, new research adds that you shouldn’t believe everything you watch online, either. And that especially goes for plastic surgery videos on YouTube. That's because these videos can be misleading forms of...

Many People with Appendicitis Don't Need Surgery, Just Antibiotics

Each year, about 300,000 Americans have surgery to remove their appendix, but a new study suggests many of these people may not need to go under the knife. Instead, their condition could be safely treated with antibiotics, the researchers say. The study looked at data from more than 250 adults...

How long can organs stay outside the body before being transplanted?

When it comes to organ transplant surgery, doctors are racing against the clock — and time is not on their side. A team of clinicians must first remove the organ from its donor, sets of gloved hands coordinating to deftly cleave tissue from the body. Doctors then prep the harvested...

A Man's Dentures Were Stuck in His Throat for More Than a Week

A U.K. man's dentures fell down his throat during surgery and were stuck there for more than a week before they were discovered, according to a new report. The case highlights the dangers of leaving dentures in a patient's mouth during any surgery that requires general anesthesia, according to the...

Japanese Scientists Plan to Create Human-Mouse Hybrids. Here's How.

Some unusual embryos may soon be growing in Japan: those of human-mouse and human-rat hybrids, news sources are reporting. A research group in Japan received approval from a committee in the Japanese government on July 24 to move forward with an experiment that will put a type of human stem...